La Bataille de Deutsch Wagram 1809

Premier Rules for La Bataille ME (August 2018)

When an enemy combat formation moves adjacent to cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers, the tirailleur may fire and retreat before offensive fire if:

 The enemy unit is not an unlimbering artillery unit or a cavalry tirailleur. This retreat occurs after defensive fire by the tirailleurs, but before the offensive fire of the phasing player. If the enemy moving adjacent unit is unlimbering enemy artillery, the Cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers may fire before the artillery unit unlimbers ( opportunity fire ) and then remain to give defensive fire on the unlimbered artillery, then retreat one hex, but must face offensive fire due to the nature of artillery range. The effects described (movement or retreat before combat) in the rule above are canceled by moving any enemy light cavalry formation, not necessarily in cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers order, next to the enemy cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers. Cavalry tirailleurs may fire their total skirmish factor at all adjacent combat formations. Example : Three enemy units occupy hexes adjacent to cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers; two are in column in one hex each, while the third is deployed in two hexes in line. Four hexes are, therefore, occupied by enemy units. The cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers formation may make three fire attacks. One each upon the units deployed in column, and one upon the unit deployed in line. In each fire attack the cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers fires its full skirmish fire value as indicated on the specific side. Cavalry acting as cavalry tirailleurs/skirmishers may not charge; melee at half their printed value; and may only retreat before combat if there is a printed movement differential of two or more in their favor. Though the climax of battle in the Age of Napoleon was often during assault by melee, the effects of fire combat still went a long way in the final determination of the outcome. Fire combat, from either musket or cannon, was often the preliminary of the offensive assault, while defensive fire was used to blunt the attacking forces. Since marksmanship was an art that was more decorative than functional, given the accuracy of the musket, fire can best be imagined as an action against an area (a hex) rather than against a combat formation. A hex may be the designated target only once during a fire segment of the chronology of battle. The fire defense value of a hex is determined by the tactical organization employed by the defender and the type of terrain where the defender is deployed. In addition, the human and horse density of the target may also affect the fire defense. To fire against a hex, simply total the eligible fire factors and compare this sum to the fire defense factor. Make sure to take into account the number of increments in the hex; the tactical organization; and the terrain. Establish the odds (round any fractions down); roll the dice; and find the result on the Fire Combat a’ la Feu (21)

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